Don C.

Don teaches

Don delivers an exceptional lesson experience and ranks in the top
15% of our teachers nationwide.

Teaches students:

Ages 5+

Teaching since:

January 2009

I love teaching and I love music!
I am a Tenor, and I am a Voice teacher.
I received My Bachelors degree from Wheaton College in Wheaton IL, with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance
I am currently going into my final year to obtain my Masters Degree from Westminster Choir College in Princeton NJ Where I am pursuing a Masters in Music in Vocal Pedagogy and Performance.
I have been singing since I was a very young (about 8) and have been studying Voice for over 10 years.
I am able to teach a Variety of different music, from Broadway/Jazz/ and Pop to French Melodie/ German Lied/ Italian song/ and even Opera.
I am very good at deciphering areas that may need improvement in a singer's sound (example jaw tension that needs releasing, or too much nasality in the sound) and am good at providing helpful ways of making that sound better! Let me teach you how to sing healthily, with good technique and good stage presence! I'll make sure that you can sing for years to come!

My Philosophy:
I believe that our learning environment should be a fun one! If you're serious and want to train for the next big competition, don't worry, we'll get you there and have fun doing it! I think that students should enjoy what they're doing, and not think of the lessons as something that they will immediately be perfect at. DON'T BE AFRAID TO MAKE MISTAKES!! Music has the ability to speak to people, it can make people laugh, cry, relax, etc. Your job is to convey the meaning of the music! Let me help you get there!

My Experience:
I have sung in a large number of groups, and have help to lay the foundation for others. I've been involved most recently in the Westminster Choir College Concert Choir, The Masterworks Choir, and The Masterworks Camerata. I participated in the New Jersey All State Choir for two years. During College I was the Tenor Section Leader of the Men's Glee club. I also helped to create the Fake Group (a Vocal Jazz group) and The Thundertones (a small Men's A capella group). I've performed in a number of School Opera's, and have sung and studied many others. In addition to my work with opera, I have also been involved in a number of Musicals, (My Fair Lady, Anything Goes, The Music Man).

I'm a very well rounded musician and teacher, and I absolutely love what I do! I look forward to working with you and making you a great musician!
-Don

*** Lesson Details ***
I'm a fan of positive encouragement! So one thing I can guarantee to my students: You will never feel like an inadequate musician! If you make a mistake. GOOD! I do not expect you to be perfect, and you should not expect to be perfect!

That being said, our lessons depend a lot on you! My expectations will be in line with your goals! Do you want to sing professionally? Do you just want to sing for fun? Depending on what you want to do will depend on the pace of our lessons! On the whole I'm a pretty laid back person and teacher. Just make sure to do the homework that we assign! In the end your progress depends on you!

What we learn will again, all decide on you. If you have an area in your singing that's already really good, we'll work on an area that needs improvement! If notes are too high for you to sing, we'll work on the head register, If you have trouble transitioning from your head register to chest register (or vice versa) we will work on the transitions. in our time together, you will have learned proper technique so you're singing feels natural and easy!

I can promise that I will never choose a song that is too difficult for you to sing, and I will never ask you to sing something that will potentially damage your voice!

*** Studio Equipment ***
living room w/ keyboard open area seating for parents

Don has been a great teacher to my son. He has been very helpful teaching him breathing techniques to help him improve his singing. Don is very patient and has been able to keep my 13-year old son very interested in learning.